Determining the cause

  • Thread starter Thread starter traillius
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

traillius

Guest
Hello everyone,
I have a question. When I sin, or when something bad happens to me or my family, how can I tell where it comes from.
  1. Sin or temptation how can I tell if its ?
    a) flesh,
    b) world,
    or c) satan ( and minions )
  2. hardship
    is it a) consequence of my actions
    b) God’s will
    c) other’s free will
    d) coincidence or natural law
    or e) satan and minions
    Knowing these things would help my prayer life, and also help me solve and prevent problems
 
I don’t know if you can always definitively determine the cause in each situation, but I tend to think it is often a combination of things…

For question 1: Satan uses the world to entice us to sin, whether it be sins of the flesh or being envious or being greedy or whatever. Sometimes he can just whisper to us and that does it. 😦

For 2: Again, it’s probably a combination of things. We have free will so the consequences of our actions are our own doing. Yes, sometimes bad things can happen to us through no fault of our own (others’ free will). Sometimes Satan may have tempted us and the consequences of our sins can be hardships we must endure.

One thing I will say is that God’s “free will” doesn’t factor in when determining the cause of our sins. God is completely good and pure and could not be the cause of sin.

While I understand that trying to determine the cause of sin may help you in staying away from it in the future, I don’t think there’s always a clear-cut answer. Perhaps instead focus on what will strengthen you in avoiding sin: the forgiveness and redemption that Jesus gives us in the confessional, and the love and strength Jesus gives us in Himself in the Holy Eucharist. I have found focusing on these things gives me far more strength than I could ever get doing anything else. 👍 :love: :bowdown:
 
traillius said:
Hello everyone,
I have a question. When I sin, or when something bad happens to me or my family, how can I tell where it comes from.
  1. Sin or temptation how can I tell if its ?
    a) flesh,
    b) world,
    or c) satan ( and minions )
  2. hardship
    is it a) consequence of my actions
    b) God’s will
    c) other’s free will
    d) coincidence or natural law
    or e) satan and minions
    Knowing these things would help my prayer life, and also help me solve and prevent problems
Click to expand...
My own personal barometer for sin vs. temptation is that I’ve given into sin when I’ve dwelled on a temptation long enough to enjoy it. That helps especially with impure thoughts. It’s good to stop temptation at the thought by rejecting it, and if it persists, pray for the strength to resist it.

As far as the origins of sin, Bro. Ignatius Mary over at Saint-Mike.org says, “Of the world, the flesh, and the devil – the three things that attack our relationship God – the devil represents only about 5% or less, the world represents maybe 15% at best, and the flesh at least 80%. Our biggest foe is ourselves.”

As far as hardship goes, everything that happens to us God allows for our own good, even if it isn’t His will and suffering is caused by our own sin or the sin of others.

Satan and his demons are chained dogs that can do nothing unless God allows it, and God only allows what is good for us in the long run.

I can’t give you an answer as to how to discern where the suffering/hardship originates, but I can tell you that you can let God make lemonade out of life’s lemons by resigning yourself to His will.
 
traillius said:
Hello everyone,
I have a question. When I sin, or when something bad happens to me or my family, how can I tell where it comes from.
  1. Sin or temptation how can I tell if its ?
    a) flesh,
    b) world,
    or c) satan ( and minions )
  2. hardship
    is it a) consequence of my actions
    b) God’s will
    c) other’s free will
    d) coincidence or natural law
    or e) satan and minions
    Knowing these things would help my prayer life, and also help me solve and prevent problems
Click to expand...
Yes…oh, sorry. 🙂

Only you would have the closest answer to those questions. But, knowing the different possible origins of sin and hardships, is an invaluable tool to allow you to determine what areas of your life need attention or prayer or change or whatever.

I find that knowing where sin comes from helps me to do a good confession.

Hope this helps.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top